Rain

Rain

silence speaks of tragedy.
a chameleon breathes dust.
at a distance the dry bed of a river
sighs. speaks of a thousand deaths.
a black shaman chants and faints.
crickets screech the impending death of water.
the shaman rises.
calls to the adder are made.
the serpent appears reluctantly
and curls around the demi-god's hide,
sinks his fangs in the black ebony of skin.
red rain sinks into the dry earth and disappears.
drop after drop is shed till the last.
and then, the first drop of nectar touches the barren soil,
soaks the cold skin of the bloodless emperor
and golden dust gives way
to the ceaselss tears of heaven.